Input requested: Free travel for Seniors on Sundays?

[ozbob]

You may or may not be aware that in Victoria Seniors have a number of additional benefits on public transport services, including free travel on Sundays.

See Seniors Sunday Pass

RAIL Back On Track has previously called for a similar concession be made available in Queensland for our Senior Citizens.  See Media Release 27 Aug 2006 - Free public transport Seniors

I personally believe this a worthwhile initiative to pursue again.  Anyone have any comments?

Thanks
Ozbob

[ozbob]

I have spoken to a few people and they seem to think this would be a worthwhile initiative.  It is very popular with the Senior community in Melbourne and helps them get around on the weekend.

Any comments?

Thanks.

Regards
Ozbob

[ozbob]

Media Release 1 March 2008

SEQ:  Call for free Sunday Translink travel for Seniors on Go Card!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has previously called for free Sunday public transport travel for Senior Citizens (1).  Senior citizens now have access to a special Seniors Go Card (a red Go Card), and as a further incentive for uptake of the card and to encourage senior citizens to get out and about, it would be a simple matter to program the smart card system to allow Seniors free travel on Sundays.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?Free travel for Senior citizens was introduced by the Victorian Government on the 27 August 2006 in Melbourne. This worthwhile initiative has been a huge success and on a recent visit to Melbourne it was encouraging to hear senior citizens comment on how helpful it has been to them.?

?Public transport in south-east Queensland has some slack on Sundays, and it will be no additional load for our public transport generally to make this service available.  It will assist the Senior citizens to get out and about, visit family and friends, and have more healthy life styles.  The Go Card will allow for easy implementation of such an initiative.?

?RAIL Back On Track calls on Queensland Government and Translink to consider providing free public transport to retired Seniors in Queensland on Sundays who use the Seniors Go Card.?

Reference: 

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=52.

Contact:

Robert  Dow

Administration
admin@backontrack.org RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org